PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between The Rafaeru (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jhey Motta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for The Rafaeru has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Rafaeru
vs
Motta

189 cm
19
196 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

186 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, The Rafaeru!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jhey Motta!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Anni Minnemäki and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Motta clinches up with Rafaeru and pushes him back against the cage.
Motta is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rafaeru pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Motta breaks from the clinch.
Rafaeru slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Rafaeru moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Rafaeru tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Motta was well out of range. Poor timing from Rafaeru.
Rafaeru dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Rafaeru works Motta's body with a nice hook.
Motta uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rafaeru.
A left lands for Rafaeru.
Motta showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rafaeru.
Rafaeru throws a body punch but Motta moves out of range.
Motta shoots in but no luck this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rafaeru looks to land a combination but Motta avoids it well.
Rafaeru ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Motta moves away.
Rafaeru keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
The Rafaeru has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jhey Motta.
A good leg kick by Motta.
Motta closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rafaeru circles away.
Jhey Motta seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Motta fails with the takedown.
Motta throws a head kick that Rafaeru semi-blocks.
Rafaeru scores with a body shot.
The Rafaeru is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Motta misses with a kick to the body.
A decent looking cross lands there for Rafaeru.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rafaeru lands with an uppercut that bounces Motta off the cage and back into range.
Rafaeru ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rafaeru blocks a head kick by Motta.
Motta has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Motta tries a head kick but it misses.
Rafaeru shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Motta eats them both and turns towards Rafaeru to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Rafaeru lands the left hand.
Rafaeru connects with a body shot that sends Motta's belly button to the back.
Rafaeru is looking to wear down Motta with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Motta fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rafaeru stuffs the takedown.
Rafaeru fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Motta looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Motta falls off balance throwing a combination
and Rafaeru counters with a three punch combo that has Motta backing up. Motta nods at Rafaeru to acknowledge the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donk. Rafaeru catches Motta right on the button with a cross.
Motta fails with a takedown attempt.
Motta looks gassed!
Rafaeru scores with a sloppy right hand. Motta should have avoided that one.
Rafaeru connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
A right-left combo lands from Rafaeru.
Motta has a takedown stuffed.
Rafaeru lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Motta at a distance.
A left and a right from Rafaeru both land. Nice combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rafaeru misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Motta.
Rafaeru stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Motta shoots in for a double leg but Rafaeru sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Rafaeru will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rafaeru misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rafaeru uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Motta.
Rafaeru moves out of range as Motta throws a body kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Motta fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rafaeru looks to score with a jab to the body but Motta is just out of range.
Motta tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rafaeru sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Motta somewhat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

The Rafaeru dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Rafaeru lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
A decent looking cross lands there for Rafaeru.
Nice takedown defense from Rafaeru. No joy for Motta on that attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Rafaeru. No joy for Motta on that attempt.
Motta is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rafaeru sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
The Rafaeru has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jhey Motta.
Rafaeru scores with a nice head shot.
Rafaeru slaps away a takedown attempt from Motta, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rafaeru connects with a single shot there.
Motta is breathing heavily.
Rafaeru connects with a body shot.
Motta takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rafaeru throws a series of strikes that have Motta backpedaling.
Motta fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rafaeru displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Rafaeru throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Motta on the side of the head.

Motta clinches with his opponent.
Rafaeru looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Motta breaks from the clinch.
Rafaeru throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Motta on the side of the head.
Rafaeru with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Motta shoots in for a takedown but Rafaeru shows good takedown defense.
Rafaeru avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Motta moves forwards but Rafaeru connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Rafaeru tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Motta has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Motta shoots for a takedown but Rafaeru saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
The Rafaeru is winning the standup battle so far.
Motta has a takedown stuffed.
Rafaeru moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Good shot there by Rafaeru.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rafaeru connects with a body shot that sends Motta's belly button to the back.
Motta fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rafaeru avoids it really well and circles away.
Rafaeru stuns Motta with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Motta is trying desperately to land a takedown but Rafaeru is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Motta.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rafaeru digs a good hook to Motta's body.
Rafaeru throws a series of strikes that have Motta backpedaling.
Rafaeru lands a two punch combo.
Rafaeru lands a jab to Motta's midsection.
The Rafaeru is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Motta throws a chopping leg kick but Rafaeru manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Motta walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Motta has a takedown stuffed.
Motta is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Rafaeru.
Motta misses with a wild combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Motta closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Motta wants a takedown but no success here.

Motta breaks the clinch.
Rafaeru listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Motta on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Motta looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Nice uppercut there from Rafaeru.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Motta changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rafaeru tries to avoid it but Motta manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rafaeru to the ground. Rafaeru escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Good shot there by Rafaeru.
Rafaeru wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

The Rafaeru dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Rafaeru scores with a three punch combo!
Rafaeru clobbers Motta with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

Motta feints and as Rafaeru raises his hands in defense, Motta changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rafaeru being controlled here, momentarily.
Motta trying to control the position from guard on top but Rafaeru is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Jhey Motta has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Rafaeru jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rafaeru looks to land a combination. Motta sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Rafaeru scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Motta doesn't seem bothered though.
Motta fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Rafaeru looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Rafaeru lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Motta backs up against the cage.
Motta shoots in for a takedown but Rafaeru shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Rafaeru goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Rafaeru avoids the head kick by Motta.
Rafaeru is working the combinations to good effect here.
Motta takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rafaeru fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rafaeru connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Motta takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Motta showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rafaeru.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Motta has Rafaeru up against the cage in a clinch.
Rafaeru prevents the takedown attempt.
Motta has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Rafaeru after a bit of a struggle.
The Rafaeru has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jhey Motta.
Motta wants a takedown.
Motta slowing the pace effectively.

Motta manages to break the clinch.

Motta has managed to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rafaeru wants to break the clinch but can't.
Rafaeru has had enough of the clinch but Motta keeps him there for the moment.
Motta keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Rafaeru's efforts to push away.
Motta tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rafaeru smiles and moves away.
Rafaeru scores with a shot to the body.
Rafaeru cracks Motta with a right hand to the side of the head.
Rafaeru digs a good body shot into Motta's ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Rafaeru.
Rafaeru stuffs the takedown attempt from Motta. Motta gets slowly back to his feet.
Motta fails in his attempt to clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Motta.
Rafaeru lands a really nice looking cross but Motta seems unphased.
Rafaeru scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Motta takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rafaeru wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Jhey Motta has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The Rafaeru is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Motta is looking to clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to The Rafaeru.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rafaeru, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... The Rafaeru!